Rotary motor

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to rotary motors in which the rotational motion of the motor is provided by the attractive (or repulsive) forces between a pair of cooperating magnets in response to tilting of the motor axle.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/534,206, filed on Aug. 3, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,969,055which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/086,599, filed on Aug. 6, 2008, the entire contents of whichapplication(s) are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to rotary motors and moreparticularly but not exclusively to rotary motors that include two ormore permanent magnets to convert angular displacement of a motor axleinto rotational motion of a rotor arm about the axle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The efficient utilization of energy and the corresponding reduction inthe use of finite natural resources, such as fossil fuels, remains anenduring problem of great import throughout the industrialized world.Among the types of devices that utilize energy, motors, and especiallyrotary motors, are pervasive and occupy an important place in a varietyof devices, such as fans, blowers, water pumps, generators, wind orsolar energy transfer systems, etc. Thus, creation of rotary motorshaving increased efficiency and decreased energy consumption can have adramatic impact on the overall utilization of energy and finite naturalresources. Accordingly, a need exists in the art for rotary motors ofincreased efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to rotary motors in which the rotationalmotion of the motor is provided at least in part by the attractive (orrepulsive) forces between a pair of cooperating magnets. For example, inone configuration of the present invention, a rotary motor is providedwhich includes an axially magnetized ring magnet. The ring magnet mayinclude a generally planar upper surface and a central axis extendingthrough the center of the ring magnet perpendicular to the upper surfaceof the ring magnet. The motor may also include an axle having a distalend and a proximal end that may be initially disposed substantiallyalong the central axis of the ring magnet with the distal end pivotallymounted proximate the ring magnet. A rotor arm may be rotatably mountedon the axle to extend radially outward from the longitudinal axis of theaxle with the rotor arm disposed above the upper surface of the ringmagnet. At least one rotor magnet may be mounted to the rotor arm at alocation to permit the magnetic field of the rotor magnet to interactwith the magnetic field of the ring magnet. For example, the rotormagnet may be disposed at the rotor arm at a location above the uppersurface of the ring magnet, and may be oriented relative to the ringmagnet to be attracted to, or repelled by, the ring magnet. Either orboth of the ring and rotor magnets may comprise a permanent magnet. Toinduce and optionally maintain rotational motion of the rotor arm aboutthe axle, an actuator may be disposed in mechanical communication withthe proximal end of the axle. The actuator may be configured to move theproximal end of the axle out of line with the central axis to pivot theaxle about the pivotally mounted distal end to tilt the axle relative tothe central axis of the ring magnet, thereby inducing rotational motionof the rotor arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary and the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side elevational view of an exemplaryconfiguration of a rotary motor in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a top view of the rotary motor of FIG.1;

FIG. 3A schematically illustrates a side elevational view of the rotarymotor of FIG. 1, but with the axle tilted off-perpendicular relative toan upper surface of the base magnet to induce rotational motion of therotor arm;

FIG. 3B schematically illustrates a side elevational view of the rotarymotor of FIG. 1, but with the axle tilted in an opposite direction tothe tilt illustrated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A schematically illustrates a top view of the rotary motor of FIG.1 showing the displacement of the proximal end of the axle due to thetilt illustrated in FIG. 3A and illustrates the direction of rotation ofthe rotor arm in response to the axle tilt;

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates a top view of the rotary motor of FIG.1 showing rotation of the rotor arm in response to the axle tiltillustrated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4C schematically illustrates a top view of the rotary motor of FIG.1 and showing the displacement of the proximal end of the axle due tothe tilt illustrated in FIG. 3B and illustrates the direction ofrotation of the rotor arm in response to the axle tilt;

FIG. 4D schematically illustrates a top view of the rotary motor of FIG.1 showing rotation of the rotor arm in response to the axle tiltillustrated in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a top view of the rotary motor ofsimilar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 but having a rotor magnet mounted ateach end of the rotor arm;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a side elevational view of anotherexemplary configuration of a rotary motor in accordance with the presentinvention having counterweights mounted below the rotor arm; and

FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically illustrate a side elevational view and topview, respectively, of another exemplary configuration of a rotary motorin accordance with the present invention having two rotor magnetsmounted at a first end of the rotor arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures, wherein like elements are numbered alikethroughout, an exemplary configuration of a rotary motor in accordancewith the present invention, generally designated 100, is illustrated inFIG. 1. The rotary motor 100 may include an axially magnetized permanentring magnet 10 and an axle 20 disposed along a central axis (L) of themagnet 10 that extends through the center of the ring magnet 10. Theaxle has a distal end 22 that may be pivotally mounted at a locationproximate the ring magnet 10 along the central axis L. A rotor arm 30 isrotatably mounted on the axle 20 to permit the rotor arm 30 to rotateabout the axle 20 thereby providing the rotary action of the rotarymotor 100. The rotor arm 30 may include at least one permanent rotormagnet 40, such as a disk magnet, which may be oriented to be attractedto, or repelled from, the ring magnet 10. Movement of the rotor arm 30due to attraction or repulsion between the rotor magnet 40 and the ringmagnet 10 is controlled in part by a tilt actuator 70 mechanicallylinked by linkage 72 to a proximal end 24 of the axle 20. By controllingthe movement of the distal end 24 of the axle 20, movement of the rotormagnet 40 relative to the ring magnet 10 may also be controlled.Specifically, by moving the proximal end 24 of the axle 20 relative to apivot point at the distal end 22, the axle 20 may be tilted so the rotorarm 30 is no longer parallel to the upper surface 12 of the ring magnet10, creating a location where the rotor arm 30 will be closest to thering magnet 10. For the case where the rotor magnet 40 is oriented sothat it is attracted to the ring magnet 10, attraction between the rotormagnet 40 and the ring magnet 10 will cause the rotor arm 30 to rotatetowards the location where the rotor arm 30 is closest to the ringmagnet 10. Hence, tilting the axle 20 combined with the attractive forcebetween the rotor magnet 40 and the ring magnet 10 can effect rotationof the rotor arm 30 about the axle 20. As further explained below inmore detail, continued tilting of the axle 20 back and forth, coupledwith the attractive force between the rotor magnet 40 and the ringmagnet 10, can create sustained rotation of the rotor arm 30 about theaxle 20.

Turning then to FIG. 1 in more detail, the axially magnetized ringmagnet 10 may include a generally planar upper surface 12 and anopposing generally planar lower surface 14 each of which is parallel toone another. The ring magnet 10 may include an inner radius, R₀,corresponding to the radius of a central aperture of the ring magnet 10,and an outer radius, R₁, to provide a disk-shaped magnet having anannular or ring shape of thickness t, FIGS. 1 and 2. In reference to thering magnet 10, the term “axially magnetized” is defined herein to meanthat the magnetic poles of opposite polarity are located at the opposingupper and lower surfaces 12, 14 of the ring magnet 10, respectively.That is, the North or positive pole of the ring magnet 10 may bedisposed at the upper surface 12, and the opposite polarity South ornegative pole may be disposed at the lower surface 14. The ring magnet10 also includes a central axis L located at the rotational center ofthe ring magnet 10 and oriented perpendicular to the upper surface 12 ofthe ring magnet 10. The ring magnet 10 may comprise materials of anysuitable composition, such as samarium-cobalt, aluminum-nickel-cobalt,neodymium-iron-boron, and/or ceramic or ferrous materials.Alternatively, the ring magnet 10 may be an electromagnet.

The rotary motor 100 also includes an axle 20 having distal and proximalends 22, 24 that may be disposed initially along the central axis L ofthe ring magnet 10. The distal end 22 of the ring magnet 10 may bepivotally mounted proximate the ring magnet 10 so the axle 20 may betilted out of line with the central axis L of the ring magnet 10 whilemaintaining the distal end 22 of the axle 20 at its original locationalong the central axis L of the ring magnet 10. For example, the distalend 22 of the axle 20 may be disposed proximate the lower surface 14 ofthe ring magnet 10. In this regard, a baseplate 60 may be provided atthe lower surface 14 of the ring magnet 10 in fixed location relativethereto to provide a pivot point 62 at which the distal end 22 of theaxle 20 may be mounted. Alternatively, the baseplate 60 may be providedat the upper surface 12 of the ring magnet 10. However, in eitherlocation, the baseplate 60 should be constructed of a material that doesnot interfere with the magnetic properties of the ring magnet 10. Forexample, the baseplate 60 may include a nonferrous material.

A rotor arm 30 is rotatably mounted to the axle 20 to suspend the rotorarm 30 at a distance d₀ above the upper surface 12 of the ring magnet10. The rotor arm 30 may have a generally planar rectangular shape thatextends radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the axle 20 sothe rotor arm 30 is generally parallel to the upper surface 12 of thering magnet 10 when the axle 20 is disposed along the central axis L ofthe ring magnet 10, FIG. 1. Like the baseplate 60, the rotor arm 30should be constructed of a material that does not interfere with themagnetic properties of the ring magnet 10. The rotor arm 30 may beconfigured with a mounting hole that is disposed at a midpoint along thelength of the rotor arm 30 to receive the axle 20. In such aconfiguration opposing ends of the rotor arm 30 extend an equal distanceradially outward from the axle 20. The rotor arm 30 may be rotatablymounted to the axle 20 via a spindle assembly 50. The spindle assembly50 includes a spindle housing 54 to which the rotor arm 30 may beaffixed. Radial bearings 52, e.g., steel ceramic, or composite material,may be provided within the spindle housing 54 at opposing longitudinalends of the spindle housing 54. The radial bearings 52 each include acentral aperture through which the axle 20 passes to provide a point ofattachment, such as a slip-fit, of the radial bearings 52 to the axle20. The outer surface of the radial bearings 52 is in turn attached tothe spindle housing 54 to allow the spindle housing 54 to freely rotateabout the axle 20 on the radial bearings 52. Though one specificconfiguration for rotatably mounting the rotor arm 30 to the axle 20 isillustrated in the form of a spindle assembly 50, it is understood thatany suitable structure that permits the rotor arm 30 to rotatesufficiently freely about the axle 20 in response to the axle tiltdescribed below may be used. For example, the rotor arm 30 may bemounted to the axle 20 with a composite or alloy bushing material.

The rotor arm 30 includes at least one rotor magnet 40, which may beprovided in the form of a permanent disk magnet comprising any of thecompositions noted above as being suitable for use with the ring magnet10. Alternatively, the rotor magnet 40 may be an electromagnet. Therotor magnet 40 may be mounted proximate one end of the rotor arm 30,such as at a distance of ¾ R₁ from the axle 20, by any suitable means,FIGS. 1, 2. For example, a hole 32 may be provided in the rotor arm 30and the rotor magnet 40 may be press-fit or slip-fit with a retainingcollar into the hole 32 of the rotor arm 30. Alternatively, the rotormagnet 40 may be adhered to the rotor arm 30 by any suitable means suchas by an epoxy. The magnetic poles of the rotor magnet 40 may beoriented so that the rotor magnet 40 is either attracted to or repelledfrom the ring magnet 10 so as to cause the end of the rotor arm 30 atwhich the rotor magnet 40 is mounted to be drawn towards or pushed awayfrom the ring magnet 10, respectively. Likewise, a lower planar surfaceof the rotor magnet 40 may be oriented parallel to a lower planarsurface of the rotor arm 30.

A tilt actuator 70 is attached to the proximal end 24 of the axle 20 viaa linkage 72 to control the location of the proximal end 24 of the axle20. The tilt actuator 70 and linkage 72 may be provided in the form of apiston or cam assembly or any other structure suitable for controllingthe location of the proximal end 24 of the axle 20 as described below.As illustrated in FIG. 1, in an initial position, the proximal end 24 ofthe axle 20 may be disposed along the central axis L of the ring magnet10 in line with the pivotally mounted distal axle end 22. In such anarrangement, the rotor arm 30 may be parallel to the upper surface 12 ofthe ring magnet 10 and the magnetic forces between the rotor magnet 40and the ring magnet 10 will be rotationally symmetric about the axle 20so the rotor arm 30 will not have a preferential direction of rotationabout the axle 20. However, by displacing the proximal end 24 of theaxle 20 using the tilt actuator 70, the axle 20 may be tilted out ofline with the central axis L in such a manner as to create a preferreddirection of rotation of the rotor arm 30 about the axle 20 due to theinteraction between the rotor magnet 40 and ring magnet 10.

Specifically, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, introduction ofrotational motion to the rotor arm 30 in response to a tilt of the axle20 is illustrated to demonstrate the rotational motion associated withthe rotary motor 100 of the present invention. In the exemplaryconfiguration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotor magnet 40 isoriented so as to be attracted to the ring magnet 10. Beginning withFIG. 3A, the tilt actuator 70 may be actuated to tilt the axle 20 in thedirection T1 resulting in an displacement of the proximal end 24 of theaxle 20 from its location A0 on the central axis L to a displacedlocation A₁ to the left, FIG. 4A. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the initiallocations of the rotor arm 30 and distal axle end 24 corresponding tothe locations illustrated in FIG. 1 are shown in phantom lines. Thelocation after tilt of the axle 20 is indicated in FIG. 3A by the solidlines. A suitable tilt for use with the rotary motor 100 of the presentinvention includes a displacement (from A₀ to A₁) of the proximal axleend 24 by 60 mils for an axle 20 having a length of 14 inches, that is atilt of 0.245 degrees or 14.73 arc-minutes. Tilt of the axle 20 alsoresults in a corresponding tilt of the rotor arm 30, so that the rotorarm 30 is no longer disposed parallel to the upper surface 12 of thering magnet 10, FIG. 3A.

Since the direction of tilt T1 is directed towards the “nine o'clock”position on the ring magnet 10, P1, as viewed from above, the nineo'clock position P1 represents the location on the ring magnet 10 ofleast separation, d₂, between the rotor magnet 40 and the ring magnet10. Since for purposes of illustration it has been assumed that therotor magnet 40 and ring magnet 10 are oriented to attract one another,the rotor magnet 40 will travel towards the location P1 along thedirection in which the rotor magnet 40 is constantly getting closer tothe ring magnet 10, i.e., in a counterclockwise direction, w, as shownin FIG. 4A. Thus, tilting of the axle 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3A,results in the rotor arm 30 rotating in a counterclockwise direction sothat the rotor magnet 40 is disposed at location P1, FIG. 4B. Were theaxle 22 to remain tilted with the proximal axle end 24 at the locationA₁, or if the attractive force between the rotor magnet 40 and the ringmagnet 10 were sufficiently strong compared to the angular momentum ofthe moving rotor arm 30, the rotor arm 30 would come to rest at locationP1.

However, by utilizing radial bearings 52 having a sufficiently lowfriction compared to the angular momentum of the rotor arm 30 (whichdepends in part on the relative strengths of the rotor magnet 40 andring magnet 10), the rotor arm 30 may rotate past the location P1 due tothe angular momentum of the rotor arm 30 as is illustrated by thephantom lines shown in FIG. 4C. In this regard, the radial bearings 52may comprise ABEC grade 2 or equivalent.

To encourage the rotor arm 30 to continue rotating in thecounterclockwise direction w, the tilt actuator 70 may be actuated asthe rotor arm 30 approaches or moves past P1 to move the proximal axleend 24 in the opposite direction from which it was originally moved tolocation A₂, along the direction T2 as shown in FIGS. 3B and 4C towardsthe three o'clock position, P2. In this configuration, the three o'clockposition P2 now represents the location on the ring magnet 10 of leastseparation between the rotor magnet 40 and the ring magnet 10. Asbefore, the rotor magnet 40 will travel towards the location P2 alongthe direction in which the rotor magnet 40 is constantly getting closerto the ring magnet 10, i.e., in a counterclockwise direction, w, FIG.4A. Thus, tilting of the axle 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3B, results inthe rotor arm 30 rotating in a counterclockwise direction so that therotor magnet 40 is disposed at location P2, FIG. 4D. Again, the angularmomentum of the rotor arm 30 will carry it past the location P2 at whichpoint the tilt actuator 70 may be actuated again to tilt the axle 20 inthe opposite direction corresponding, for example, to the location shownin FIG. 3A to cause the rotor arm 30 to continue traveling in acounterclockwise direction towards location P1. Thus, the axle 20 may betilted back and forth by action of the tilt actuator 70 in time relativeto the rotational speed of the rotor arm 30 so that the rotor arm 30 maycontinue to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Consequently, theattractive force between the rotor magnet 40 and ring magnet 10 workingin concert with tilt of the axle 20 effects rotational motion of therotor arm 30 to provide a rotary motor 100 in accordance with thepresent invention.

In addition to the rotary motor configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1-4,the present invention also provides a rotary motor configuration inwhich the rotor arm 130 includes two rotor magnets 140, 145, but in allother respects may be identical to the configuration illustrated inFIG. 1. That is, the rotary motor 200, FIG. 5, may include a ring magnet110, an axle 120, a rotor arm 130, a spindle assembly 150, and a tiltactuator all of which may be assembled in the same manner as theconfiguration of FIG. 1. However, the rotor arm 130 of the configurationof FIG. 5 may include a second rotor magnet 145 disposed at an end ofthe rotor arm 130 opposite to the end of the rotor arm 130 at which thefirst rotor magnet 140 is positioned. The first and second rotor magnets140, 145 maybe oriented relative to the ring magnet 110 such that one ofthe rotor magnets 140 is attracted to the ring magnet 110 and the otherof the rotor magnets 145 is repelled by the ring magnet 110.

Further, the present invention also provides a rotary motorconfiguration in which the rotor arm 230 extends beyond the diameter ofthe ring magnet 210 and includes counterweights 280, 282 disposed at theends of the rotor arm 230 below the rotor arm 230 to increase the momentof inertia of the rotor arm 230, FIG. 6, but in all other respects maybe identical to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. That is, therotary motor 300 may include a ring magnet 210, an axle 220, a rotor arm230, a spindle assembly 250, a baseplate 260, a tilt actuator 270, and alinkage 272 all of which may be assembled in the same manner as theconfiguration of FIG. 1. However, the rotor arm 230 of the configurationof FIG. 6 may have a length greater than the diameter of the ring magnet210 and may extend beyond the periphery of the ring magnet 210. Acounterweight 280, 282 may be provided at each end of the rotor arm 230that extends below the rotor arm proximate the ring magnet 210 toincrease the moment of inertia, and consequently angular momentum of therotor arm 230 upon rotation. The counterweights 280, 282 may comprisebrass, aluminum, or any non-ferrous material. Alternatively oradditionally, one or both of the counterweights 280, 282 may take theform of a magnet, such as a cube magnet, that is oriented to be repelledby or attracted to the ring magnet 210.

Still further, the present invention also provides a rotary motor 400similar to that shown in FIG. 6 but having two rotor magnets 340, 342disposed at a first end of the rotor arm 330, FIGS. 7A, 7B. In all otherrespects the rotary motor 400 may be identical to the configurationillustrated in FIG. 6. That is, the rotary motor 400 may include a ringmagnet 310, an axle 320, a rotor arm 330, a spindle assembly 350, abaseplate 360, a tilt actuator 370, counterweights 380, 382, and alinkage 372 all of which may be assembled in the same manner as theconfiguration of FIG. 6. However, the rotor arm 330 may include two ormore rotor magnets 340, 342 disposed at one end of the rotor arm 330.The rotor magnets 340, 342 may be positioned so that the respectivemagnetic poles are oriented in opposite directions, with one of therotor magnets 340, 342 being attracted to the ring magnet 310 and theother being repelled by the ring magnet 310. Alternatively, both rotormagnets 340, 342 may be oriented with the same magnetic polarity. Afirst of the rotor magnets 340 may be located a distance d₁ from theouter edge of the ring magnet 310 and the second rotor magnet 342 may belocated a relatively greater distance d₂ from outer edge of the ringmagnet 310. In addition, the first rotor magnet 340 may be located withits center along the longitudinal axis of the rotor arm 340, and thesecond rotor magnet 342 may be oriented off-center at a distance W₁ fromthe edge of the rotor arm 330.

EXAMPLES Example 1

A rotary motor 300 of the type illustrated in FIG. 6 was fabricatedaccording to the following parameters. The ring magnet 210 was providedin the form of an axially magnetized ceramic ring magnet, grade 8,having an inner radius, R₀, of 2.17 inches (ID 4.34 inches), and outerradius, R₁, of 3.935 inches (OD 7.87 inches), and a thickness of 0.79inches. (Applied Magnetics, Plano Tex.) The rotor magnet 240 comprisedan axially magnetized N42 neodymium rare earth disk magnet having adiameter of 0.75 inches and thickness of 0.125 inches. (Part #DC2, K&JMagnetics, Inc., Jamison Pa.) The rotor arm 230 was 12 inches long, 0.25inches thick, and comprised aluminum. The rotor magnet 240 was placed ata location on the rotor arm 230 so that the rotor magnet 240 was located0.125 inches, d₁, FIG. 2 inward from the outer edge of the ring magnet210, though distances d₁ as far as 0.385 inches in from the outer edgeof the ring magnet 210 are believed to work as well. The distancebetween the bottom face of the rotor magnet 240 and the upper surface212 of the ring magnet 210 was 0.5 inches. Distances as large as 1.25inches are believed to be acceptable. The first counterweight 280 wasprovided in the shape of a 0.5 inches cube that comprised brass weighing7 oz, and the second counterweight 282 comprised an axially magnetizedN45 neodymium rare earth 0.5 inch cube magnet weighing 7 oz. andoriented to be repelled by the ring magnet 210. (Applied Magnetics,Plano Tex.) The counterweights 280, 282 were spaced 0.385 inches fromthe edge of the ring magnet 210, D0, FIG. 6.

The axle 220 was 14 inches long and comprised a ¼ inch diameter C30precision ground steel shaft, oil hardened. (Part #8893k36.McMaster-Carr, Elmhurst Ill.) The radial bearings 252 were shieldedchrome steel. (Part #696Z, NSK, Inc., Ann Arbor Mich., www.nsk.com.) Thebase plate 260 comprised aluminum machined to fit the inner diameter ofthe ring magnet to provide a fixed position for the distal end 222 ofthe axle 220. The action of the tilt actuator 270 for purposes of theexperimental prototype was provided by grasping the proximal end 224 ofthe axle 220 and tilting it back and forth by hand. However, it isunderstood that this function could be provided by a motor comprising apiston or suitable assembly.

Example 2

A rotary motor 400 of the type illustrated in FIG. 7 was fabricatedaccording to the following parameters. The ring magnet 310 was providedin the form of an axially magnetized ceramic ring magnet, grade 8,having an inner radius, R₀, of 2.17 inches (ID 4.34 inches), and outerradius, R₁, of 3.935 inches (OD 7.87 inches), and a thickness of 0.79inches. (Applied Magnetics, Plano Tex.) The rotor magnets 340, 342 eachcomprised an axially magnetized N42 neodymium rare earth disk magnethaving a diameter of 0.75 inches and thickness of 0.125 inches. (Part#DC2, K&J Magnetics, Inc., Jamison Pa.) The rotor magnets 340, 342 wereoriented with their magnetic polarities in opposite directions to oneanother, with the outer magnet 340 disposed to that it was repelled bythe ring magnet 310. The rotor arm 330 was 12 inches long, 0.25 inchesthick, 1 inch wide (W0), and comprised aluminum. The outer rotor magnet340 was placed at a location on the rotor arm 330 so that the rotormagnet 340 was located 0.125 inches, d₁, inward from the outer edge ofthe ring magnet 310, FIG. 7B. The inner rotor magnet 342 was placed at alocation on the rotor arm 330 so that the inner rotor magnet 342 waslocated 0.385 inches, d₂, inward from the outer edge of the ring magnet310 and 0.155 inches, W1, inward from the longitudinal edge (i.e., 30mil off-center) of the rotor arm 330, FIG. 7B. The distance between thebottom face of the rotor magnet 340 and the upper surface 312 of thering magnet 310 was 0.5 inches. Distances as large as 1.25 inches arebelieved to be acceptable. The first counterweight 380 was provided inthe shape of a 0.5 inches cube that comprised brass weighing 7 oz, andthe second counterweight 382 comprised an axially magnetized N45neodymium rare earth 0.5 inch cube magnet weighing 7 oz. and oriented tobe repelled by the ring magnet 310. (Applied Magnetics, Plano Tex.) Thecounterweights 280, 282 were spaced 0.385 inches from the edge of thering magnet 310, D0, FIG. 7A.

The axle 320 was 14 inches long and comprised a ¼ inch diameter C30precision ground steel shaft, oil hardened. (Part #8893k36.McMaster-Carr, Elmhurst Ill.) The radial bearings 352 were shieldedchrome steel. (Part #696Z, NSK, Inc., Ann Arbor Mich., www.nsk.com.) Thebase plate 360 comprised aluminum machined to fit the inner diameter ofthe ring magnet to provide a fixed position for the distal end 322 ofthe axle 320. The action of the tilt actuator 370 for purposes of theexperimental prototype was provided by grasping the proximal end 324 ofthe axle 320 and tilting it back and forth by hand. However, it isunderstood that this function could be provided by a motor comprising apiston or suitable assembly.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly,it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes ormodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It shouldtherefore be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include allchanges and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

1. A rotary motor comprising: a. a ring magnet having an upper surface;b. at least one rotor arm disposed generally parallel to the uppersurface of the ring magnet in magnetic communication with the ringmagnet, and wherein the at least one rotor arm is configured to rotateabout an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the uppersurface of the ring magnet; and c. a tilt actuator configured to tiltthe axis of rotation and the at least one rotor arm relative to the ringmagnet to orient the at least one rotor arm and the upper surface of thering magnet out of parallel with one another, whereby the tilt actuatorand the magnetic communication between the at least one rotor arm andring magnet cooperate to effect rotational movement of the at least onerotor arm about the axis of rotation.
 2. The rotary motor according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one rotor arm comprises at least one rotormagnet.
 3. The rotary motor according to claim 2, wherein the at leastone rotor magnet is oriented to the ring magnet to be attracted to thering magnet.
 4. The rotary motor according to claim 2, wherein the atleast one rotor magnet is oriented to the ring magnet to be repelled bythe ring magnet.
 5. The rotary motor according to claim 2, wherein theat least one rotor magnet comprises a disk magnet.
 6. The rotary motoraccording to claim 2, wherein the at least one rotor magnet comprises apermanent magnet or an electromagnet.
 7. The rotary motor according toclaim 2, wherein the at least one rotor magnet comprises two rotormagnets.
 8. The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein the ringmagnet comprises samarium-cobalt, aluminum-nickel-cobalt,neodymium-iron-boron, ceramic, or ferrous materials.
 9. The rotary motoraccording to claim 1, wherein the ring magnet is an electromagnet. 10.The rotary motor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one rotorarm is configured to be attracted to the ring magnet.
 11. The rotarymotor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one rotor arm isconfigured to be repelled by the ring magnet.
 12. The rotary motoraccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one rotor arm comprises atleast one counterweight.
 13. The rotary motor according to claim 12,wherein at least one the rotor arm has a length that is greater than thediameter of the ring magnet and the counterweight is disposed proximatean end of the at least one rotor arm.
 14. The rotary motor according toclaim 13, wherein the at least one counterweight comprises a magnetic,brass, aluminum, or non-ferrous material.
 15. The rotary motor accordingto claim 12, wherein the at least one counterweight comprises amagnetic, brass, aluminum, or non-ferrous material.